Song Premiere: Nir Felder - "Lights"

Jazz guitarist Nir Felder could be familiar for plenty of reasons, between his year-long residency at New York’s 55 Bar and work backing a multitude of other artists on stage. Fortunately for those who haven’t yet caught the versatile guitarist in person, the collaborations didn’t end once the shows were over. In 2011, Felder gave up his residency in favor of capturing the music in the studio, drawing in a number of his cohorts for what would become his forthcoming album, Golden Age.

“It’s more of a question than a statement,” says Felder of the album’s title. “Some people are nostalgic for the 1980s and early 90s when times were rough and unsafe but art and culture were flourishing. Was that a golden age? Is this one? Has there every really been one?”

Studying famous speeches, Felder integrated samples from politicians and cultural figures into the instrumental interpretation of these questions. Golden Age is set for release on Jan. 21 via Okeh, and its first single “Lights” indicates that it is a record well worth the anticipation.

”’Lights’ was one of those songs that comes to you complete,” said Felder. “To me it feels like a story that moves in a circle, where the beginning and end meet up. On the record, I hear it as a sort of prologue where the chorus of voices hints at some of the themes and ideas that inspired me to make the album in the first place.”